Inguinal hernia developed after radical retropubic surgery for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: In this retrospective study, we aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of inguinal hernia developed after radical retropubic surgery for prostate cancer to the hernia without previous radical prostatectomy. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (group A) who had radical retropubic surgery for prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic or open tension-free inguinal hernia repair from March 2007 to February 2011. Nine hundred and forty patients (group B) without previous radical retropubic surgery received laparoscopic or tension-free open hernia operation. RESULTS: Group A was older than group B (mean ± standard deviation, 69.6 ± 7.2 vs. 54.1 ± 16.1; P < 0.001). Right side (73.9%) and indirect type (91.3%) in group A were more prevalent than in group B (51.5% and 69.4%, respectively) with statistic significance (P = 0.020 and P = 0.023). The rate of laparoscopic surgery in group B (n = 862, 91.7%) was higher than in group A (n = 14, 64.3%, P < 0.001). In comparing perioperative variables between the two groups, operative time (49.4 ± 23.5 minutes) and hospital stay (1.9 ± 0.7 days) in group A were longer than in group B (38.9 ± 16.9, 1.1 ± 0.2; P = 0.046 and P < 0.001, respectively) and pain score at 7 days in group A was higher than in group B (3.1 ± 0.7 vs. 2.3 ± 1.0, P < 0.001). Postoperative recurrence rate was not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Inguinal hernia following radical retropubic surgery for prostate cancer was predominantly right side and indirect type with statistic significance compared to hernias without previous radical prostatectomy.

Clinical and cytogenetic findings on 31,615 mid-trimester amniocenteses.

BACKGROUND: Since amniocentesis made prenatal diagnosis feasible in 1967, the method has become a popular tool in obstetric practices. In Korea, the demand for genetic counseling and prenatal tests has increased markedly because the number and proportion of pregnancies in women aged 35 yr and older have increased over a 20-yr period. Here we report clinical and cytogenetic findings on 31,615 mid-trimester amniocenteses. METHODS: To investigate the changes in the annual number of amniocentesis, distribution of indications and age, and cytogenetic findings and abnormality rate according to indications, this study retrospectively analyzed 31,615 cases of mid-trimester amniocentesis performed at Seoul Clinical Laboratories, an independent medical laboratory center, during the past 13 yr (1994-2007). RESULTS: The annual number of amniocenteses has increased substantially since 1994. Among the 31,615 amniocentesis cases, the maternal age between 30 and 34 yr was the most common age group (35.4%). Among clinical indications, abnormal maternal serum screening results have been the most common indication for amniocentesis since 1994. Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 973 cases (3.1%). Down syndrome was the most common abnormality found (36.9%, 359/973). In sex chromosomal abnormalities, 53 cases of Turner syndromes, 32 cases of Klinefelter syndromes, 20 cases of triple X syndromes, and 15 cases of 47,XYY were diagnosed. Of structural rearrangements, reciprocal translocations between two autosomes were the most common (15.5%, 151/973). Abnormal ltrasonographic findings showed the highest positive predictive value (5.9%) among the clinical indications. CONCLUSIONS: The present study could be used for the establishment of a database for genetic counseling. The discovery of an abnormality provides the option of termination or continuation in the pregnancy, a more suitable obstetric management in Korea.

Identification of lamin A/C ( LMNA) gene mutations in Korean patients with autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1B.

Mutations in the LMNA gene encoding lamins A and C by alternative splicing have been found to cause at least four different kinds of genetic disorders: autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD2; MIM 181350); limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1B (LGMD1B; MIM 159001); dilated cardiomyopathy type 1A (CMD1A; MIM 115200); and familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD; MIM 151660). Recently, we have studied two Korean patients with atrioventricular conduction defects. They had variable extents of muscular dystrophy; one patient was diagnosed with EDMD2 and the other with LGMD1B. We performed a mutation analysis of the LMNA gene by direct sequencing and found two different missense mutations: R249Q and R377L, in the EDMD2 and LGMD1B patient, respectively. The R249Q mutation is located within the central rod domain of the LMNA gene, and has been described in at least five unrelated sporadic EDMD2 patients. On the other hand, the R377L mutation, also located within the rod domain, is a novel mutation, although a histidine substitution instead of leucine (R377H) has been reported previously in an LGMD1B patient. To our knowledge, this is the first report of LMNA gene mutations in Korean patients with EDMD2 and LGMD1B.